Things to Do

Two Nation Train Tours Another interesting aspect of the city is the remnants of the Arizona and Eastern Railroad that still operates freight trains from Campo to the famous Tecate brewery. Except for the last Saturday of each month which is dedicated to special wine tasting tour, regular Campo-Tecate trips run every Saturday. The railroad Museum provides a terrific on-board-hand-out that details the history of the town and the brewery, lists places to eat and shop and tells you everything else you need to know about spending a leisurely mid-day here. Vintage and Wine Tours Once a month, the regular Tecate Train adventure is extended to include an additional motor coach tour from Tecate to the nearby Guadalupe Valley wine country for tasting and tours at three Baja wineries. This tour includes round transportation from San Diego to the Campo Station. The train rides the Baja's wine country tour and lunch at "Mustafa's" an excellent country inn in the Guadalupe Valley. You can depart at Santa Fe Station at 7:30 a.m. or board the train en route in El Cajon or Campo. Shopping If you're in the mood for shopping, Tecate has it all! If you go to the famous pavers' yard, where 95% of their merchandise crosses the border each day to such suppliers, you'll be able to find fabulous bargains. Pots and outdoor fireplaces, beautifully painted and sealed, sell for one third the price charged in the States. Paving materials for driveways, patios and interiors are also just as reasonable. And to take home some of the most beautiful memories of Mexico, visit Hidalgo Park or the arts and crafts center across the street from the Lopez Mateos Park. Find beautiful hand crafts from the south of Mexico (pottery, alebrijes, jewelry, and picture frames) or watch the glass blowers create delicate, whimsical figurines. You can buy onyx bowls or hand-woven blankets, all for a fraction of the cost in the US. Some medications that require an expensive trip to the doctor in the U.S., require neither in Mexico. Visit a farmacia for healthful savings. Bakeries Tecate is famous for making the best bread in Baja! If you haven't had "bolillos" or "birotes", those little loaves that are the real masterpieces of the Mexican baker, you've missed the chance to tear your teeth into the best crust on this or any continent. Then, you sure try the huge elephant ears, bread pudding squares, "conchitas", croissants, "cocodrilos".... The fun lies in each bakery individuality. You will find them along the main street and they have coffee or hot chocolate to enjoy a sweet treat. Restaurants From Taco Stands to Burger King, to Seafood. There are several restaurants in town with excellent food as well as service. From Chinese food to Mexican quesadillas, Tecate offers a wide variety of delicious food. Art There is an active group of people supporting a local Cultural Center. Is located east of the city on Juarez Boulevard, and offers classes in dance and music as well as training in the visual arts. There is also an exhibition area, marked, at this writing with a collection of works of most of Tecate's best known artists, as well as important foreign exhibitions. There are well known Tecate painters as Pabel, famous for his posters of Rosarito and the border crossing; Blancarte, prize winner in the Tijuana Cultural Center; Adame, best known for his stylized and yet sensual landscapes of Tecate; and Magana ceramic artist per excellence. Traditional and moving portraits by Marcos Brambrila, who is known as Tecate's first artist, etc. However there are no commercial galleries in the town. To purchase, the buyer must go to Tijuana or, better yet, Rosarito where Pabel's Gallery and Giorgio Santini Art Gallery feature Tecate artists. Outdoor Activities In the rugged and beautiful, boulder strewn mountains surrounding Tecate one cannot be disappointed if hiking is your hobby. Fresh water springs feed the valley below and make any trek more enjoyable amongst the plants which flourishes here. Bicycle, motorcycle and car races are important annual events, while horseback riding or backpacking can be enjoyed year 'round. The ancient archeological site of El Vellecito takes visitors back to a time when a drawing was worth a thousand words.